Does the federal government hold members of the Senior Executive Service accountable for their actions? In part three of Federal News Radio's special report, Fixing the SES, current and former senior executives respond candidly to the criticism.

For the agency, the Skills Marketplace offers a new way to get work done without more staff or resources. For employees, it provides a chance to build skills and make connections without giving up their day jobs.

The SES has lost its luster in recent years, in part because of constrained program budgets, increased scrutiny from Congress, and a sense among members that political appointees are assuming more of the leadership responsibilities once reserved for them. In part two of our special report, Fixing the SES, five Senior Executive Service members tell Federal News Radio why they choose to stay in the service, and why they believe the SES may have its faults, but it's not broken.

Fewer than half of the Senior Executive Service members who responded to an exclusive Federal News Radio online survey say they would join today. The survey results were even more dim for federal employees at the GS-15 and GS-14 ranks. In the first of our four-part special report, Fixing the SES, we examine how current senior execs feel about the SES, and what they believe is right and wrong with the service.

The Homeland Security Department cannot pay for more border security or make recommended changes to the Secret Service as long as it's operating on a continuing resolution, Secretary Jeh Johnson said during a speech at the Wilson Center.